ֱ

Cristiano Ronaldo ready to play for Juventus despite rape allegations

Cristiano Ronaldo ready to play for Juventus despite rape allegations
(FILES) In this file photo taken on September 29, 2018 Juventus' Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the Italian Serie A football match Juventus vs Napoli at the Juventus stadium in Turin. Cristiano Ronaldo is "doing well" and will be "ready to play" this weekend, despite being caught in the storm of rape allegations, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said on October 5, 2018. Allegri said Ronaldo "is in the squad and ready to play" on Saturday when the winners of the past seven Serie A titles visit Udinese. / AFP / Marco BERTORELLO
Updated 05 October 2018

Cristiano Ronaldo ready to play for Juventus despite rape allegations

Cristiano Ronaldo ready to play for Juventus despite rape allegations

LONDON: Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to play for Juventus against Udinese this weekend despite the rape claims made against him, coach Massimiliano Allegri said on Friday as the Italian champions try to maintain their perfect start to the Serie A season.
“Ronaldo is doing well, he is ready to play. His professionalism and his composure on and off the pitch are not in question,” Allegri told a press conference on Friday.
“He is ready to return to action tomorrow.”
US police said Monday they had re-opened an investigation into accusations by former American model Kathryn Mayorga that the Portuguese player raped her in a Las Vegas hotel in June 2009.
Ronaldo has strenuously denied the accusations.
“I’ve known Cristiano for three months now and for over 15 years of his career he has shown to be a great professional both on and off the pitch,” said Allegri of the 33-year-old striker who joined the club from Real Madrid for 100 million euros ($117 million) during the summer.
“He’s dedicated and he’s just as dedicated to social issues, which says it all.”
Ronaldo was filmed preparing for the game on Thursday, with several Juventus players later posting a photo of a team dinner in a Turin restaurant, with a smiling Ronaldo seated between Blaise Matuidi and Federico Bernardeschi.
“It is normal that we help him during a delicate time, but he has broad enough shoulders to focus on tomorrow’s game, go down onto the pitch and play well,” said Allegri.